Japanese domestic shipment of electric wire and cable was quickly estimated at 60,400 tonnes of copper in November, decreasing by 0.4% from a year earlier, according to preliminary survey on around 130 electric wire and cable makers belonging to Japan Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association, the Association announced on Friday. The shipment volume would hit the secondly lowest as November in past 35 years. Meanwhile, the shipment is expected to reach 60,000 tonnes to follow 60,488 tonnes in October, which exceeded 60,000 tonnes for the first time in eleven months. Actual shipment of optical fiber products in October hit the third record high.
Copper wire and cable shipment for domestic construction market and related wholesalers reached 25,000 tonnes for the first time in six months in October. The shipment is expected to represent higher in November than in October. The shipment seems steady for large building construction projects around Tokyo and for small-lot reconstructions and restorations in Tohoku area. Shipment for car makers, mainly automotive wiring harness, exceeded 6,900 tonnes for the first time since November 2008 in October. The shipment is estimated to slightly decrease in November while to keep above 6,500 tonnes for three months in a row when domestic car production is increasing. On the contrary, shipment for domestic power companies is likely hit the lowest volume as November in past 35 years. Japanese power companies have minimized capital expenditure for construction and renewal of power infrastructures due to energy cost expansion after suspension of atomic power plants. Actual shipment of optical fiber products increased by 30.1% to 3.52 million kilometers of fiber core (kmf) in October from a year earlier, which exceeded 3 million kmf for five straight months. Shipment for export expanded by 65% to 2.78 million kmf and hit the monthly record.